Will Medicare pay for Zostavax vaccine or only Part D will pay for the vaccine itself?

I am 67 years old. I have Medicare Part A and Part B and also Part D that is for Prescriptions. My internists is suggesting that I get Zostavax Vaccine for Shingles. She says she believes that Medicare will not pay but I can check with my 'secondary' insurance Part B. My daughter in law who is a Pharmacist says she believes that if the doctor gives me a prescription for it. I come in and 'run' to the doctor's office to have it injected (because it must be kept cold..it begins to lose its power as soon as taken out of the freezer), then Medicare Part D which is my prescription insurance will pay (but she doesn't know if it will pay for the actual 'injecting' to the doctor. So my question is: Is the Zostavax (shingles) vaccine in any way covered by Medicare? (P.S Also, if I don't go to a Pharmacy and the Doctor uses what she has in her refrigerator...will that be covered under Prescription? if Part D is the only part that pays?)

Starting this year, Zostavax is a Part D vaccine. Do not go to a doctor's office for this because you will have to pay more for it. Go to a pharmacy and have a pharmacist administer it, assuming you live in a state which allows this.
It will be treated as an out of network claim. MDs can never be in network in a Part D program. MDs were allowed to bill Part B for Zostavax last year as an emergency provision.
http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?ei=U...

Hi...I know how you hate having to call about everything, but your best bet is to call Medicare. You should have the number on your Medicare card and they should be able to tell you if it will be paid for by parts A, B, and D. Good luck and God Bless You!
I think your daughter in law is right and you would have to have a prescription. Take a small cooler and put in a bag of ice into the cooler, do not put the vaccine into the bag of ice. This should keep it cool long enough to get it to the doctors office to be injected. Seems there would be someone else who could inject you. Maybe the nurse on staff could inject you once you arrive at the doctor's office.. Medicare needs a lot of help for seniors. It's way too complex and it's not beneficial in so many ways. Try to remain calm when you go back to get injected. They will think you are a mental case if you get overly excited or worried. Keep your cooler closed so your medicine will stay cool.

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